Ben Askren has finally broken his silence after surviving a harrowing health battle that nearly took his life. The retired UFC star and former Bellator and ONE champion underwent a double lung transplant following a brutal fight with pneumonia that spiraled from a staph infection earlier this year.
Askren had been unconscious for weeks, slipping in and out of awareness as doctors fought to save him. His wife, Amy, regularly shared updates, revealing that he had no memory of much of the ordeal. In a video posted to Instagram, Askren finally gave his fans the update they’ve been hoping for.
“I just read through my wife’s journal because I don’t remember anything from May 28 to July 2,” he said. “No recollection. No idea what happened. It’s like a movie. It’s ridiculous.”
Doctors had to revive Askren multiple times. His heart stopped on four separate occasions during his hospitalization. Despite the close calls, Askren pulled through.
“I only died four times where the ticker stopped for about 20 seconds,” he said, half-joking. “That’s not ideal. But I got the double lung transplant. I made it out the other side. I’m gaining quite a bit of strength, learning how to use everything again.”
The weight loss was just as staggering. Askren said he dropped about 50 pounds during his stay in the hospital.
“I was actually on the scale yesterday, 147 pounds. I haven’t been 147 since I was 15 years old,” he said. “That was a battle. I don’t remember most of it.”
Ben Askren’s recovery is still ongoing, and he hasn’t said how long he’ll remain in the hospital. While full recovery from a double lung transplant usually takes months, the riskiest window is the early stage where infection and organ rejection are most dangerous.
Through it all, the outpouring of support from the combat sports and wrestling community has been overwhelming. Friends, rivals, and fans have rallied around him, Jake Paul, Jorge Masvidal, and Corey Anderson all sent messages, with Anderson even sharing a heartfelt tribute.
“The thing that was most impactful to me was all the love I felt from everybody,” Askren said. “It was almost like I got to have my own funeral. I remember 30 years ago, when Dave Schultz died, people shared all these memories of how much they loved him, how much they enjoyed him, and he never got to hear any of that. The outpouring of love from the wrestling community is just amazing. It felt so good.”
“I love you guys. I appreciate you guys. It’s been tough, not just on me but on my whole family and close community. I appreciate everything.”
This was Askren at his rawest: vulnerable, honest, and grateful. He finished by hinting that he and Amy may share the full story someday, but for now, he’s focused on healing and regaining his strength.
“I’m more motivated than ever to keep giving back, to help out in any way I can. So I appreciate everything, and I hope you guys appreciated the update.”
